Locking mechanism for vehicle doors



March 2, 1943.- A. P, MlcKLER 2,312,352

" uOCKING MECHANISM VFR VEHICLE DOORS Filed Feb. 5, 1940 III Patented Mar. 2, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT .OFFICE o l .2,312,352 d LOCKING MEcHANIsM Fon'vEHIgcIiElnooRs Arnold P. Mickler, lOrlando',.1Ffla. Application 'February 5, 1940,;seriai'No. '317,431

3 claims. cmo-e264) I This invention relates to improvements in locking mechanism for vehicle doors and with regard to its more specific aspects to mechanism for simultaneously locking and/or unlocking the several doors of a Vehicle (automobile, truck, etc.), and which is operable from either -side ofthe vehicle, regardless of the side from which the previous locking or unlocking was effected.

Among the objects of the present invention may be noted the provision of an improved locking mechanism by which the several doors of -a Vehicle may be simultaneously locked from either side of the vehicle and by which the vehicle doors may thereupon be simultaneously unlocked from either the same side as that from which the previous locking was effected or from the opposite side of the vehicle; the provision of a locking mechanism of the stated character which, -when operated to simultaneously lock -all of the vehicle doors, renders the door handle and/ or door unlatching means operated thereby, with which each door is conventionallyprovided, inoperative to effect unlocking or unlatching of any one or all of the doors until the positive and authorized unlocking as permitted by the mechanism iseffected, and which thus its capable of`maintaining the vehicle doors locked, regardlesswof door-window position; and the provision of I a -locking mechanism for vehicle doors which is characterized by simplicity in construction, which is rugged and durable in use, and which is capable of accomplishing the above desirable results in effective and efficient manner.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part hereinafter pointed out in connection with the following analysis of this invention wherein is illustrated an embodiment of the invention i detail. 3

Inthe drawing:A

Fig.` 1 is a front to rear elevation of a portion of a door post between front and rear doors at the right side of avehicle, and which illustrates theyprefe'rred arrangement and relation of lock cylinder 'and striker plateoi the present inventin Zand rbeing'lorokenaway to illustrate in side elevatoncthe striker A'plate dogging mechanism actuableby the turnable lock cylinder, it being understood that the door post between the front and rrear doors at the left side of the vehicle carries similar parts although arranged'in reve'rse or 'left-hand position;

L'EigQZis, a view looking into the door post Qhlrlel and contained locking assembly, which illustrates the striker plate clogging mechanism in lts'up or door-locking position.

Fig. 3 is a View similar to Fig. 2 whichA illustrates `.the strkerplatedosging mshanism i its down or unlokingrei 2132 t0 whichfithasheen actuated by Partial fcleekwse rotation 0f the lock cylinder; l

Fig. 4 is a section taken generally along line iv-4,101 Figc; i 1 Y Y Fig. -5 isa front: to rear broken away elevation of the bell crank assemblies ,by which locking and/or unlocking movement yis transmitted lfrom one side yof the veliicletothe other;

Fig. v6 is aside-r elevation of one of thebell crank assemblies y Fig. '7 is aigeneralized View indicating sche-` matically thevmannerin which lockingand-/pr unlocking maybe eiected from either side of the vehicle to -wl'iichtlie f mechanism i is applied. In thedrawingfthellockingmechanism of the presentl invention has :been ,shown forv purposes offillustration als-arranged to lock and unlock the doors of vehicles such as automobiles having four doors, `that is, frontand rear doors on each side thereof. The yrelation-of iront andrear door and interm'ed iat-.eA door post is partially indicatedgenerally .in Fig. 4 wherein l0 indicates the front. door and Iffthe rear door at'the right side of the vehicle, 'said doors closing against "a door post vchannel `I2 of `generally conventional construction.; V`Figlmay further be representativelfof the relationIOtrOntandreardoor and intermediate door post at :theleft side of the vehiclefby considering door I las the front door and door I'llasthe rear door.

As will fbedhereinafter described, the invention contemplates the provision -of locking V assemblies, `one ,for vj each side of the lvehicle'ffor lockingQand vfor LLunlockingthe door or door'son that side,theilocking assemblies being -so interconnected asby a linkage system that actuation of, either .assembly to r,locking and/or unlocking position results fin likeactuation of the other assembly. By such arrangement one of the primary objects o f'the invention is achieved, namely, that of simultaneously'locking and/or'unlocki'ng the doors of the vvehicle to which the mecha.- nism is applied-frQm-either .side thereof and fregardless of vthe `sifljle from vwhich the previous locking or unlocking operation was effected. v With this .preliminarygexplanation of` the invention in mind,l'referencehis had toFigs. `l'-4, wherein the righthand locking assembly is illustrated in detail. -Mountedin the post kchannel l2. and .at alevel ;CQrrQS.PQI1, ,1ineLO.-.that f the QQnYmQlal, .Strileplatefffind latch bout-0f. known vehicle door construction is the pair of opposed striker plates I4, I5, having a floating mounting in the post and being urged away from each other by outer and inner compression springs I'I, I8, the ends of which are seated in spring seats formed in the adjacent faces of the striker plates as indicated. The relatively outer faces of the striker plates, which extend through suitable openings in door post channel, are preferably stepped as at 2|, 22 and the steps thereof are adapted to be succesively engaged by a stationary striker 24 as carried by each door I0, II Thus as either of the doors swings to closing position, its striker 24 successively rides over the steps 2|, 22 of the engaged striker plate, rela` tive inward movement thereof being permitted by the springs I'I, I8, until the striker finally engages behind and interlocks with shoulder 25 of the striker plate step 22. In this position of the parts, the door is latched in closed position, with springs I'I, I8 maintaining the striker plate in its latching relation with the door striker as illustrated.

According to the present invention each of the vehicle doors is provided with a handle operated unlatching mechanism of the character employing a pusher bolt which has a normal retracted position as indicated in Fig. 4; said bolt being movable out of the door frame to engage against an associated striker plate upon turning of the door handle to its unlatching position. By manipulation of the door handle as aforesaid and referring to the pusher bolt 3) of door I I in Fig. 4, pusher 30 is actuated towards the left and against the striker plate I5, thus to actuate the latter to its retracted position against the action of springs I1, I8. In this retracted position, the door striker 24 clears the steps 2|, 22 of the striker plate, and the door II may be swung to its open position, with compression springs I'I and I8 thereafter returning the striker plate I5 to its normal position in readiness for the next latching operation.

The locking assembly associated with the striker plates I4, I5 is of the character as, in locking position, to prevent retracting movement of the striker plates or either of them, thus to render ineffective the unlatching means as described. To this end a striker plate dogging block is provided which by reference to Figs. .2 and 3 is movable into a high position in which the block 35 functions to dog the striker plates I4, I5 in their normal or out position, thus to prevent any retracting movement of the plates, the dogging block being movable to a low position, in which latter the block provides no obstruction to the retracting movement of the striker plates as is required for unlatching.

The dogging block 35 may take the form of a rectangular block mounted for vertical movement in vertically arranged guide pieces 36, 31 carried by the door post channel I2 in the manner illustrated. The block operates in the space between the guide pieces and is provided on its side faces with grooves or ways 38, 39 in which the facing side edges of the guide pieces extend.

Secured to the block 35 is a strap 40 which extends downwardly a substantial distance and which is bowed laterally as shown, the lower end thereof being secured in a slide block 42 also mounted by the guide pieces 36, 31 and partaking of any vertical movement imparted the block 35.

Intermediate its ends the strap which operates in the post channel space is provided with an opening 44 adapted to receive the free end of an arm-45 whose other end is secured as by 'the'left side of the vehicle. templated that the same keyV will operaterbothy screws 46 to the relatively rear end of a rotatable lock cylinder 48, which extends into the post channel. The front end of the cylinder has a wing handle 50 projecting exteriorly of the channel for convenient operation.

With the dogging block 35 in its up or locking position, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the block functions to prevent any relatively inward or retractingmovement of either or both of the striker plates I4, I5. Hence, assuming the doors I0 and II to have been latched closed and the block 35 thereupon actuated to its up position, the pusher bolts 30 are wholly ineffective as movement thereof out of the door to their unlatching position is prevented by the block 35 and interposed striker plate.

Unlocking is effected by lowering the block 35 from its striker plate obstructing position to its low position indicated in Fig. 3. This block lowering movement is effected in simple manner as by imparting clockwise rotation to lock cylinder 48 through its operating handle 50. Such rotation effects clockwise rotation of arm 45, during which the free end of said arm moves into opening 44 of the strap 40 and by its rotation cams the strap downwardly7 to the position indicated in Fig. 3, and hence actuates the dogging block 35 out of its striker plate clogging position to its low position as indicated in Fig. 3. In such position striker plates I4, I5 are maintained in their relatively outward position only by the compression springs I'I, I8 and accordingly the door handle associated with either or both of the doors Il! and Il may be operated to actuate its bolt 30 against an associated striker plate, thus to retract the latter and unlatch the door or doors.

Clockwise rotation of the lock cylinder 48 beyond the point at which its arm 45 is shown in Fig. 3 results in disconnection of the arm from the strap 40. By giving the lock cylinder' a full 360 turn, the arm is returned `to its initial position as indicated in Fig. 2. While no details of the lock cylinder are here given as such forms no part of the present invention, it will be understood that the lock cylinder is preferably of the character requiring insertion of a key 5I in a slot extending through the wing handle 50 and cylinder for rotation of the latter and further requiring a full 360 cylinder rotation prior to removal of the key.

To effect a locking operation, the key 5I is inserted in the handle and cylinder slot and the cylinder turned in reverse or counterclockwise direction. During such cylinder rotation, the free end of arm 45 engages in opening 44 of the strap 40 and cams the latter upwardly. Hence block 35 is moved upwardly to its Fig. 2 position in which it prevents movement of the striker plates to retracted position. Upon completing the full 360 cylinder rotation, the key 5I can be withdrawn and the doors are positively locked against unlatching.

Reference has been made to the foregoing to the provision of a locking assembly as aforesaid on both the right and left sides of the vehicles, each assembly functioning to lock all the doors on its side of the vehicle. It will be understood therefor that a locking assembly as described will also be installed in the door post on the left or drivers side of the Vehicle, and-that the left side locking assembly, is similar to the right side assembly as described, differing. therefrom only in that it operates the door or doors opening into It is further conaggregata right and -leftside locking assemblies, so that a key which has effected locking of all doors from one f'side of the vehicle may be inserted in the Ilooking assembly at the opposite side, thus to -unlock all doors from the latter side.

vConsidering now the means for actuating both 'locking assemblies from either side of the vehicle, such may include a linkage system comprising a vertically disposed rod 55 secured at its upper end to the slide block 42 of the right hand lockfin'g mechanism and operating in the right side door post channel I2, and a similarly arranged rod 56 secured to the slide block of the left side post channel I2a (Fig. 7). The lower ends of the rods 55, 56 (Fig. 5) are connected respectively into the knuckles 51, 58. The knuckle 51 turns on a bearing lpin 59 extending from the relatively upper arm of a right side bell crank 60, andthe knuckle 58 turns on a bearing pin 6I of a similarly arranged left side bell crank 62.

`Bell crank 60 is mounted toturn on the axis of a `p'in 64 carriedby a stand 65 bolted or otherwise secured to the vehicle floor 66. The other arm of the ybell crank carries a bearing pin 68. In similar manner, the left hand bell crank 62 is mounted to turn on the axis of a pin carried by a stand 1I also secured to the vehicle floor, the lower arm of said bell crank carrying "a bearing pin 12 similar to pin 63. Said pins 68 and 1-2 provide mounts for opposed knuckles 13, 14, into which are secured the ends of a transverse thrust rod 15, which extends from side to lside of the vehicle, preferably under the front or drivers seat, and which may be housed in a protective channel 16.

The bell cranks 68, 62 are each movable from the full line position to the dotted line position as indicated in Fig. 5, being maintained in the position to which they are actuated by the overcenter springs 18, 19, of which spring 18 extends between a stand hook 80 and the projecting end of bearing pin 68. In similar manner spring 19 associated with the left hand bell crank 62 operates between a stand hook 8| and the end of the bearing pin 12.

By the above described linkage system, actuation of either of the locking assemblies to locking and/or unlocking position results in like actuation of the other locking assembly. Thus, if it is assumed that the right hand locking assembly has been actuated to unlocking position (Fig. 3), lowering movement of block 35 results in like movement of the slide block 42 and hence axial down movement of rod 55. This latter movement turns bell crank 68 in clockwise direction, similar movement being imparted the left hand bell crank 62 by thrust rod 15. As the latter bell crank moves clockwise, it effects lowering of rod 56 and hence of the slide block and clogging block of the left hand locking assembly. Accordingly, all doors have now been unlocked from the right side of the vehicle, it being understood that the same unlocking operation could have been initiated from the left side and effected.

Assuming that subsequent locking of all doors from the left or drivers side of the vehicle is desired, the locking assembly at that side is actuated to locking position resulting in raising of the block to its locking position, the rod 56 being raised thereby. Bell crank 62 is thereby turned clockwise (Fig. 5) to its full line position, similar movement being imparted bell crank 66 by thrust rod 15 which moves block 35 into its locking position. Obviously, this simultaneous actuation of both left and rightside lckiii'g'lassemblies to locking position c'uld have initiated 'and effected from the lright side'of the vehicle, rather than from the left 'side as 'described.

It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the over-center springs 18, 19 function to main- 'tain the bell cranks and hence the 4clogging blocks 35 in the position to which they have been actuated. In order further to limit movement 'of the blocks beyond that necessary, there is lprovided suitable means such as a positive 'stop kpiece 82 secured across guides '36,"31 `just above the high position of each block 35, thus to limit the' upward movement thereof. Stop means to limit the downward throv/of the doggin'g'block ais'-i sembly mayals'o be 'provided -in the 'nature of a stop 85 spanning the 'guides 36,31 at 4a'fpoirlt below the slide blo'ck42 and defining the *lov/er position of said block and vhence the limit jof the clogging block movement. v v

While the locking mechanism `of the vpresent invention has been described in :the foregoing'as applied to a four-door vehicle, 'that is, a vehicle having tWo doors on each side thereof, it is of course applicable to two-door vehicles of the char# acter having one ldoor on each side without sub'-A stantial change. Thus, according to one manner of applying this locking mechanism on two-door vehicles, a dummy striker `plate'i's substituted for one of the striker plates I4, I5 of each latching assembly so that springs I1, I6 hold lthe operative striker plate of each assembly in its nora mal latching position. Obviously, the latching assemblies, instead of being mounted in the posts between front and rear doors, as when the mechanism is applied to the four-door vehicle, may, in

the case of the two-door vehicle having doorsY hinging on rear edges, be installed in the door front-frame; or, in the case of two-door vehicles in which the doors hinge along their front edge, the latching assemblies may with equal facility be mounted in the door rear-frames. In this connection it will be understood that the lever system interconnecting the latching assemblies can be installed so as to operate under the front seat or just to the rear thereof when the mechanism is applied to vehicles of either the four-door type, or to vehicles of the two-door type in which the locking assemblies are mounted in the door rearframes. Where the latching assemblies are mounted in the door front-frames, as required in a two-door vehicle having doors which hinge on their rear edges, the interconnecting leverage system can be installed under the dash to operate in effective manner.

In .addition to the practical advantages provide-d by the mechanism of the present invention in its ability to lock and/or unlock all doors of a vehicle from a position at either side thereof, the locking mechanism as described has added advantage in that it can be locked only from the outside and by the use of a key, and is accordingly wholly independent of window position. Thus, when locking has been effected from one side or the other of the vehicle, retracting movement of the striker plates I4, I5 of the locking assemblies at both sidesl of the car is positively prevented from either the inside or the outside of the vehicle, the door unlatching means being ineffective because the pusher bolts 30 thereof cannot be actuated to their unlatching position. Hence, the locking mechanism of the present invention operates effectively regardless of whether the vehicle door windows are raised or lowered. This latter feature is of notable advantage when it is desired to lock the vehicle doors and leave the door windows open for ventilating purposes.

As many changes could be made in -carrying out the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above `description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A vehicle door locking mechanism comprising, in combination, latching mechanism including a part Xedly carried by the door, a member carried by the door post adapted for interlocking engagement with said door part, means mounting said member for movement from a door part interlocking position to a retracted position, door carried means normally operative to actuate said member to retracted position, thereby to unlatch the door, and door locking means including a member mounted for vertical movement Within the door post from an inoperative to an operative position in which it renders said door carried means ineffective to actuate the member as aforesaid.

2. A vehicle door locking mechanism comprising, in combination, latching means for each of the vehicle doors, each including a striker plate adapted to coact with a Xed door part, means normally urging said striker to its latching position but providing for movement thereof to an unlatching position, door carried means normally operative to actuate the striker plate of its latching means to unlatching position, and locking means on each of the opposite sides of the vehicle each including a single, vertically reciprocable member movable from an inoperative to an operative position in which it renders all said door carried means on its side of the vehicle ine'ective to actuate the striker plates associated therewith to unlatching position, and operating connections between the reciprocating members on the two sides of the vehicle providing for .actuation of both said members to operative position upon actuation of either.

3. A vehicle door locking mechanism comprising, in combination, latching means for each of the vehicle doors, each including a striker plate adapted to coact with a xed door part, means normally urging said striker to its latching position but providing for movement thereof to an unlatching position, door carried means normally operative to actuate the striker plate of its latching means to unlatching position, locking means on each of the opposite sides of the Vehicle, each including a single, vertically reciprocable member movable into position in which it renders all said door carried means on its side of the vehicle ineffective to actuate the striker plates associated therewith to unlatching position, and means for actuating both said vertically reciprocable members in unison and from leither side of the vehicle.

ARNOLD P. MICKLER. 

